66 days. I'll be back (Alec/Magnus)
- What are you reading?
Alec shuddered and almost dropped the book, which he gently squeezed in his hands, plunging into its history of beautiful sea creatures, which instead of feet had a scaly fishtail and a surprisingly beautiful voice, which they lured the careless young men to the bottom. Insidious and cruel - mermaids are beautiful and terrible at the same time, they have no sympathy and pity, and they are not able to love.
- Magnus, don't sneak up on me like that," the young man said with dissatisfaction, trying to hide how he was frightened by the unexpected appearance.
- I'm sorry," Magnus laughed, making it seem as if there were a lot of little silver bells in the air. - So what are you reading?
Alexander pushed the book away embarrassedly, trying to hide it from his companion, but the shining golden look broke it, and, having taken a deep breath, the young man still decided.
- These are stories about mermaids," Alec replied embarrassedly, staining his pale, sharp cheekbones with a charming scarlet.
- That's how," said Magnus, naively slamming wet lashes. - Why didn't you just ask?
He leaned his dark palms against the rock on which Alexander had taken his legs, and climbed upon him, leaving in the water only the end of a long, shiny golden tail, covered with plates of shimmering scales.
- It was awkward for me," Alec tapped, turning his back, trying to hide his admiration for a beautiful creature, the master of the sea. Magnus smiled tenderly, reaching out and touching someone else's palm, so different from his.
- Alexander, - the triton quietly called, forcing the young man to look at him shyly from under his bangs. - I will always answer you. There is nothing wrong with your interest, on the contrary, I like it.
Alec smiled weakly, clutching Magnus' wet palm in his hand. He remembers the first time he saw him, who gave him almost drowned sister, remembers running as a child on the beach and calling for a beautiful newton to thank, and then for a long time to admire the view and say the only "magical".
They often met by the wild beach, near the grotto, where it was deep enough, but there was also room for comfort. Alexander had already grown up to be a man and was preparing for the most important event of his life, so he had to meet someone who had taken his heart away forever.
- Look, Magnus, - Alec started insecurely, ruffling his hair on the back of his head, trying to hide himself from the warm cat's eyes. - Something happened...
- What is it, fox? - decided to cheer up the triton when the pause was too long.
- Fox? - Alec asked Alec in a bewildering way, ambiguously bending his eyebrows.
- Panda? - Magnus tried again, and Alexander sniffed at it. - Okay.
- In general," the man sighed deeply, straightening up and finally daring to look straight into the eyes of others. - I joined the Navy. The day after tomorrow, I went to the sea.
There was a pause between them, broken by the quiet rustling of the waves against the rocks. Alexander was afraid of this moment when he had to tell Magnus about his decision. He had dreamed of the sea all his life and his meeting with his creation only confirmed this desire. Alec loved the smell of salt, the strong winds that burned his face, and the sound of waves. He likes the rocking on the water, the skip of a tree on the ship and the screams of seagulls. But he will leave Magnus, who, unfortunately, cannot sail far from this bay, and therefore the separation is inevitable.
Alexander expected anything but the touch of cold lips on his own, hot and leaking. I did not think that he would be hugged, cuddling, giving him water.
- It's all right, - Magnus said, barely audible. - I'll always be waiting. Not on land, but at sea - you'll come back to me sooner or later.
Still, legends do not lie - mermaids drag people to the bottom. But Alec knows that it is not true in all the stories - mermaids know how to love. They are stronger and brighter than all people. Killingly and gently.
Alexander will return to him. Alive or dead, but will return.